JEFFERSONVILLE, Ind. (WDRB) -- A new documentary takes a close, hard look at drug use in southern Indiana with the hopes of helping people change their lives.

The film is called “A Hit of Hell,” and it’s an unfiltered look into the world of opiate and heroin addiction with a focus on stopping young people from starting before it’s too late.

The film was shot over six months in Harrison County, Indiana, and was created by Harrison County Indiana Prosecutor Otto Schalk.

“I see this day in and day out, so I know the lifestyle these people live but the general public," Schalk said. "They have no understanding of why someone puts a needle in their arm. Why does someone live the way they do?”

On Tuesday night, several people gathered at Cook Memorial United Methodist Church in Jeffersonville for a screening of the film. Marilyn Greenwell knows firsthand the impact drug abuse can have on a family after losing her daughter to a heroin overdose.

“Now, because I have two grandsons left behind, my concern is with the kids," Greenwell said. "How can we protect the kids? what can we do to help them?”

Schalk had originally planned for the 43-minute documentary to be shown in high schools around southern Indiana but quickly realized that it should be shown to even younger audiences.

“We have pills in every one of our schools in Harrison County, and we are certainly not an anomaly," Schalk said. "That’s middle schools, and we have heroin in every one of our high schools."

In the film, Schalk talks to many addicts who will stop at nothing to feed their addiction, with some people spending $100 a day for one opioid pill. Many of those addicted start using opiates and transition to heroin.

Several times in the film, the addicts are referred to as “dope sick,” meaning many need to shoot up just to get out of bed and function for the day, not even trying to get the feeling of being high.

The screening was organized by the group I Am Affected which identifies resources available for addicts and offers help.